When World War ii began, no Japanese American was allowed to fight for his country. By the end of the war, this all Japanese-American 442nd Regiment was the most decorated unit ever in the history of American warfare. One lesson stands out in particular from the example of these men, and it is contained within the Regiment’s fight song. It demonstrates the mind-set that drove their achievements during the war:

“We will round up the Huns
At the point of our guns,
And victory will be ours!
Go for broke! Four Four Two!
Go for broke! Four Four Two!
And victory will be ours!”

What does “Go for broke” mean? The term originated from gambling jargon, but the 442nd converted it into a fighting motto. It not only means to set out to do something and accomplish it, but to do it with such intensity, focus and determination that you have to use all the means available to you to complete the task. It means to push to the edge—to the physical or mental breaking point. It is a combination of self-determination and a deep desire for nothing less than total achievement and victory. Using this mind-set, this infantry division carried out one of the most remarkable examples of heroism in World War ii.

For six months during the war, the U.S. Army had been attempting fruitlessly to break the German Gothic Line, which protected the Po Valley and the entrance into Austria. This was the last barrier to Germany—and it was a nearly impenetrable barrier. The Germans had used more than 15,000 slave laborers to build 2,376 machine-gun nests, 479 gun positions, and numerous concrete bunkers and anti-tank ditches. The defensive line stretched from the west coast of Italy through the Apennine Mountains. Germany had high, mountainous terrain in its favor and a mass of armed Germans as its defense. To date, no one had been able to break through. That’s where the 442nd came in.

In April of 1945, the 442nd went to the battlefront near the German Gothic Line. The commander and officers of the 442nd devised a plan to break the line in 24 hours. They would scale a mountain in full combat gear and take the Germans by surprise. The mission sounded like a death wish; still, the 442nd was given permission to go ahead with their plan, in cooperation with other units of the U.S. Army.

At the heart of the defensive barrier were the Apuan Alps. During the dead of night, the 442nd began to climb the 4,000-foot ascent to the top. The Germans would not expect an attack from the perilous mountainside.

Since their plan was to storm the barrier by surprise, they were required to climb in freezing temperatures at night while wearing full combat gear and remaining completely silent. For eight hours, the 442nd Regiment climbed the mountain in complete silence. Those who lost their grip fell to their death without making a sound. Those who survived the climb went on to successfully break the Gothic Line in 32 minutes!

Three regiments of the U.S. Army had been attempting to break that defensive barrier for six months. It wasn’t until the 442nd dared to “go for broke” that the U.S. Army broke the Gothic Line.

Where does that kind of achievement come from? Go back and read their fight song again. They were going for broke. It wasn’t just a song that they would chant before a battle. It was their mind-set.

The soldiers of the 442nd had to fight hard for what they achieved. All in the regiment were willing to sacrifice everything to prove their loyalty to the United States. Every member of the 442nd had setbacks. They went straight from confinement into war. They were leaving their families behind in internment camps. It’s hard to even imagine the situation that those men went through during the war: Climbing a mountain in the frigid cold with their comrades falling inaudibly around them. Yet, the 442nd is the most decorated unit in U.S. military history. After the war, they gained the respect and admiration of their nation. The 442nd was awarded eight Presidential Unit Citations, and 21 of its members were awarded the Medal of Honor for their valor and heroism in World War ii.

“Going for broke” is a valuable mind-set that we should all strive to attain. Take it practically: There could be an assignment that you are working on, a difficult test you need to study for, a speech, a difficult workout, or an obstacle at work. Whatever it is, attack it with “go for broke” effort. How much time and effort is wasted when we fight with a halfhearted attitude? The 442nd Regiment did not waste any time. The kind of effort that turned the tide in World War ii can also turn the tide in your personal battles. Most importantly, we can do nothing of ourselves (John 5:30), but with God, victory is assured. Truly practice “going for broke,” and see what it can do!